Which Caulk for Keel Bolts

[gbgreen59]

I pulled the keel bolts from my 1984 Bene First 35. Each bolt is well bedded in caulk. The seal was very good, and each bolt is in great shape. I plan to apply proper torque to the bolts, while the boat is in dry dock. Is there a special caulk that should be used for bedding the keel bolts? I use SikaFlex 291 for other projects quite a bit. Is this caulk good to use?

Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[njlarry]

Any caulk is better than no caulk

For keel to keel stub or hull to deck I would use 3M 5500, for just the bolts and thru hulls I use Life Caulk or the Silkaflex 291.
Glad you are checking the torque, most owners just ignore them-sad to say.

 

[gbgreen59]

Thanks for the reply.

Last winter, I just resealed the keel/hull joint, without tending to the keel bolts. Upon haul out, there I found a couple of small places where the seal on the keel/hull joint pulled apart. One place was on the very front of the keel. Then there is a length of about one foot on one side of the keel/hull joint that pulled apart.

This winter, I plan to rebed and torque the bolts, and then reseal the keel/hull joint with caulk. Then inspect the keel/hull joint upon haul out next winter. If the seal on the keel/hull joint is broken, I plan to have the keel/hull joint worked and rebedded. Does this sound like a good plan?

 

[woodster]

Thanks for the reply.

Last winter, I just resealed the keel/hull joint, without tending to the keel bolts. Upon haul out, there I found a couple of small places where the seal on the keel/hull joint pulled apart. One place was on the very front of the keel. Then there is a length of about one foot on one side of the keel/hull joint that pulled apart.

This winter, I plan to rebed and torque the bolts, and then reseal the keel/hull joint with caulk. Then inspect the keel/hull joint upon haul out next winter. If the seal on the keel/hull joint is broken, I plan to have the keel/hull joint worked and rebedded. Does this sound like a good plan?

yes sounds good note that the 3m sealant should be 5200 not 5500 i think that was a typo on the above post

 

[gbgreen59]

Very good. Thanks for the help.

 

[DougM]

yes sounds good note that the 3m sealant should be 5200 not 5500 i think that was a typo on the above post

Don't use 5200 if you ever intend to take the joint apart. Its a good adhesive , maybe a bit too good.

 

[kappykaplan]

Satan's Glue

Don't use 5200 if you ever intend to take the joint apart. Its a good adhesive , maybe a bit too good.

Isn't that why 5200 is called Satan's Glue?

 

[ISABELLA5]

Purchased an '80 Hunter 27 last year. I was concerned about the keel bolts so had the boat pulled for the purpose of inspecting the keel bolts. Keel was bedded with 5200. After the keel nuts were removed it required yard personnel over two and one-half hours of chiseling to finally break the keel from the hull. All bolts were in perfect condition. Moral: 5200 is not known as satan's glue for nothing.

 

[njlarry]

yes sounds good note that the 3m sealant should be 5200 not 5500 i think that was a typo on the above post

Thanks Wooster, my spellin aint two goood.

 

[knot smart]

For keel to keel stub or hull to deck I would use 3M 5500, for just the bolts and thru hulls I use Life Caulk or the Silkaflex 291.
Glad you are checking the torque, most owners just ignore them-sad to say.

+1 on the Life Caulk.. my boatyard recommended it for below water applications